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These are from my client session handouts.
WHAT
YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HYPNOSIS.
THE MAJORITY OF PERSONS WHO ENTER HYPNOSIS, A STATE OF BEING WHICH INCLUDES DEEP RELAXATION OF BOTH MIND AND BODY,
FIND IT A PLEASANT AND BENEFICIAL EXPERIENCE. HYPNOSIS APPEARS TO COMBINE SEVERAL CAPACITIES OF MIND,
WHICH OCCUR NATURALLY IN ALL PERSONS. IT MEANS LITERALLY, "SLEEP OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM". CONTRARY
TO BELIEF AND APPEARANCE, PERSONS IN HYPNOSIS MAY ENTER A STATE OF "SUPER - CONSCIOUSNESS", OFTEN BEING MORE AWARE
OF THEIR SURROUNDINGS THAN USUAL, HEARING EVERYTHING WITH A CRYSTAL CLARITY. DEEPER HYPNOTIC LEVELS, NOT ALWAYS THE
BEST FOR MUCH HYPNOTIC "WORK", CAN PRODUCE MEMORY LOSS. OF COURSE, IT IS NOT USUAL TO BE AWARE
OF ANY "GAP", SO A COMMON ILLUSION IS CREATED, THAT NOTHING HAS BEEN FORGOTTEN!
JUST BEFORE A PERSON FALLS ASLEEP,
OR ON AWAKENING, A STATE OF PLEASANT DREAMY DROWSINESS CAN BE EXPERIENCED. THIS ALTERED STATE
OF MIND, OUR AWARENESS FLOATING FREE, SEPARATING FROM OUR BODIES AND PRESENT SURROUNDINGS, IS A LIGHT TRANCE, WHICH NORMALLY
EVERYONE PASSES THROUGH TWICE A DAY! MOST PEOPLE HAVE ALSO PERFORMED AN EVERYDAY ACTIVITY, ON "AUTOMATIC",
WHILST THEIR MIND WAS, "SOMEWHERE ELSE". AN ACTIVITY SUCH AS WALKING OR DRIVING A COUPLE OF BLOCKS
OR MORE, WITHOUT CONSCIOUS RECOLLECTION. THIS IS DISSOCIATION, ANOTHER FACTOR OF HYPNOSIS. MOST PEOPLE ALSO HAVE THE CAPACITY
TO BECOME DEEPLY INVOLVED IN A BOOK, MOVIE OR TELEVISION, ETC. TO GET THEIR ATTENTION AND "BRING THEM
BACK", ANOTHER PERSON MAY HAVE TO USE TOUCH, OR REPEAT THEIR NAME A FEW TIMES. THIS IS FOCUSED CONCENTRATION.
THE NORMAL FOCUS IS OUTWARD, BUT IN HYPNOSIS, THIS CONCENTRATED ATTENTION IS TURNED INWARD. WITH
THE ASSISTANCE OF A HYPNOTIST, THESE MENTAL ABILITIES CAN BE USED TO CREATE YOUR HYPNOTIC TRANCE. GUIDED
BY YOUR HYPNOTIST, WITH YOUR EVERYDAY "THINKING MIND" BYPASSED, YOUR DEEPER INNER MIND BECOMES OPEN TO YOU, AND
HELPFUL CHANGE OF MIND AND BODY OFTEN EASILY BECOMES A POSSIBILITY.
Hypnosis:
fears, fact and fiction - myth and magic.
"What if I can't be hypnotized?" Hypnosis uses mind capacities everyone possesses, as previously described, so a hypnotist can assist clients
to enter their trance state at will. The only need is for the client to understand the meaning of the hypnotists
words and the client's genuine co-operation with the suggestions of a competent practitioner. Persons
may place limitations on their ability to enter trance, due to misconceptions, doubts or fears.
"What if I enter a trance, and cannot return to normal?"
There has never been a recorded case
of a hypnotized person remaining in trance. Imagining the very worst case possible, a person would pass into a natural sleep,
then awaken. In fact, just as with sleep, hypnosis can be resisted, or the trance ended by the client at any time, should
a strong need or desire to do so exist.
"What
if hypnosis could be dangerous?" In the past hypnosis has been mistaken for a supernatural, magic or an
otherwise occult event. In fact, this state of deep relaxation is no more dangerous than sleeping or dreaming. When practiced
by an ethical qualified hypnotist your trance is safer than any drug.
"What
if I lose total control of all I say or do?" Does not happen. Naturally, in this relaxed
state of mind and body, a person feels reduced concern, just as when drowsy, prior to sleep. But a person will not say or
do anything they really do not wish to, despite stage shows and the exaggerations of the mass media. Clients retain ultimate
control over their words and actions, though feelings such as shame or embarrassment are reduced; now the person is less concerned.
Stage/media hypnosis compared with actual hypnotherapy, can be likened to sniffing glue in order to become intoxicated, rather
than using it to build furniture. Hypnosis itself is a neutral tool, so motive is everything.
"What if I am weak willed, or gullible, to be hypnotized?" As
hypnosis is a natural state produced with the clients consent and co-operation, the inner mind is open to suggestions, but
can still reject any regarded as unsuitable. This state, of suggestibility, is not to be confused with gullibility, which
means easily taken in. The ability to be hypnotized seems to be a fixed personality trait, independent of other traits. If
anything, highly intelligent, imaginative, strong willed persons are able to co-operate well. They can produce the required
mental concentrated focus with greater ease.
Responses
To Hypnosis & Hypnotherapy.
The following (paraphrased) quotes in
bold, are from THE USE OF HYPNOSIS... by BARON A. VON SHRENK-NOTZING, (pp 98,115,116), psychiatrist,
in a book on hypnotherapy published in Munich, Germany, over 100 years ago, and reprinted
in New York, 1956. (my comments, lower case in brackets). I was amazed at how little people's stereotypical reactions
had changed over the years.
"IN NO FORM OF TREATMENT IS THE TENDENCY TO BREAK
OFF SO PRONOUNCED AS IN HYPNOTIC TREATMENT. CLIENTS EXPECT-ATIONS CAN BE SO HIGH THAT, IF WONDERS DON'T TAKE PLACE AT
ONCE, THEY MAY BE EASILY DISAPPOINTED."
(Though hypnosis and hypnotherapy lend themselves to rapid profound therapeutic results,
time, effort and emotional honesty may be required from both the client and the hypnotherapist, as in any therapeutic effort).
"THE SIMPLICITY OF THE PROCEDURES ALSO DOES NOT MEET EXPECTATIONS, AND THE FIRST IMPROVEMENTS
RESULTING FROM HYPNOTHERAPY OFTEN ARE UNNOTICED AND THE PATIENT STAYS UNAWARE OF THEM."
(Even as improvements do take place, they may be taken for granted, but in reality,
they are often more rapid and much greater than the usual results from other therapies. Clients therefore need to pay attention,
and take notice of emotional & attitudinal changes, new behaviors or recent decisions).
"THE IMPROVEMENTS ARE OFTEN CREDITED TO OTHER CAUSES, AND NOT ALWAYS ASSOCIATED WITH
THE HYPNOTIC "SESSIONS."
(Due
to incomplete recollection, and, in general the unreliable nature of memories of trance events, and their unexpected power,
even if recalled as very simple. I used to quote clients as saying, "I feel better because my grandmother has come
to town," or "I feel better because my grandmother has left town," etc. etc.)
"MANY CLIENTS BELIEVE SLEEP, (UNCONSCIOUSNESS), IS NECESSARY FOR THE SUCCESS OF THERAPY,
THOUGH ACTUAL LOSS OF MEMORY/UNCONSCIOUSNESS OCCURS ONLY ABOUT ONE OUT OF THREE OR FOUR TIMES, AND IS NOT ESSENTIAL."
(Many clients are very surprised that, despite hearing my suggestions,
powerful results still occur.. "You need to understand that, even if suggestions are heard and recalled consciously,
none of us have any way to know how open/ receptive our inner minds have become to a hypnotists words ...because none of us
possess any dial, gauge or indicator with which to measure this response." Often
trance will not conform to a preconceived idea).
"MANY CLIENTS, IN DEEP UNAWARE HYPNOTIC TRANCE, HAVE BUT INDISTINCT MEMORY OF THE EVENTS,
AND OFTEN HAVE LITTLE IDEA HOW MUCH TIME HAS PASSED, (time distortion BG). SOME TEND TO DENY THEY WERE
IN TRANCE. SOME INSIST THEY WERE ASLEEP. LITTLE WEIGHT CAN BE GIVEN TO THE CLIENTS MEMORY OF EVENTS."
(This confirms the general unreliability of trance memories... Many clients
find it difficult to give up belief in their own perceptions ... "Before hypnosis, you knew of only two states, awake
or asleep, so that if no memory of trance remains, using your old information, you deduce you were asleep!" Sometimes
I point out to the client, that they in fact awake by responding to my suggestions, in fact coming awake as I say, "Eyes
opening, opening, opening." unlikely to happen if you were asleep! Many times, clients believe they remember
all that took place in trance, but a few questions reveal that in fact, much is not maintained for conscious recall).
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